257 Comments
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Mike Hammer's avatar

We need to assume Trump will never cede power, and we need to start acting like it. Now.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

He won't willingly, that's for sure. Whether or not he leaves on his back after one too many Big Macs is another question. Unfortunately for us, JD is in some respects an even worse prospect. We're going to have to act, work, cross our fingers, pray, and work some more to have a fair election in 2026. [For those ready to jump down my throat, get over it. If you don't pray, then don't pray. Praying, in spite of the garbage you hear from politicians' mouths after mass shootings, does *not* mean you don't act, too.]

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Carl Selfe's avatar

It’s sad. So sad! We are the world’s wealthiest country. We just increased taxes on and stripped benefits from the poor—all to feed the WEALTHY. Uncaringly ruthless Republicans, bought off by the WEALTHY, have an agenda of pain and suffering for the poor, the needy, the sinking middle class. For heaven’s sake, give heathcare, childcare, food assistance, and LIVING wages to everyone. Charge the total cost to the WEALTHY billionaires. They cannot be satisfied, and need their greedy asses kicked for this carnage. They are funding the ruthlessness; they are gouging and gorging. To what purpose is their $ billions? Hoarding alone. Outlaw this hoarding! They cannot spend it all, yet they fund tax cuts only for themselves. Sound about right to you? I made protest signs for your upcoming protests. Protesting is now critical for Occupied D.C. We must fill the streets! There is just enough time to get signs printed for your protest group. Fill the hands of the signless with signs…or hoagies. Where are your signs? It is time to post them so that others can use them. FreeDC!

https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/sign-off-i-call-for-a-sign-off?r=3m1bs

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Xplisset's avatar

Billionaire hoards are policy weapons. www.xplisset.com

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Rhonda L Schneider's avatar

Unfortunately they saw an opening coming they prepared and planned to take over power of this country and they pounced.

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Xplisset's avatar

Prayers don’t jam a coup. www.xplisset.com

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

Not in and of themselves, no, at least not that I've been aware of. But people who do pray are often moved to act by what they believe, too. I hate having AI doing a search, but I believe this is accurate.

"I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us, and we change things."

-- Mother Teresa

I'm not here to proselytize.

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Xplisset's avatar

That’s fair.prayer can light courage; power answers to action.

That was my point: amen is the spark, paper is the lever.

If you or anybody reading this ain’t ready to turn that spark into something real, do not open www.xplisset.com.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

Also (previous reply will probably show up underneath this), I don't intend to keep throwing quotes at you, but this came to mind last night. It's attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, but that may or may not be accurate.

"Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words."

St. Francis was a real person who came from a rich family and left it all behind to serve God by serving others. Whether or not one believes in God, it's not hard to see that as a good thing.

Pretty much the opposite of what the current crowd of self-proclaimed Christians who can get their faces in front of a camera regularly.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

I’m not sure what you mean by “paper is the lever.”

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Roberta Houle's avatar

HarrisWalz. “I'm not here to proselytize.” Too late. Maybe just leave religion out of this. I know, freedom of speech, blah blah. It’s a known fact that sister teresa, I refuse to call her mother, was not a champion of the poor and sick. She left so many in pain, in torture, so they would be closer to her god. Her inadequate warehousing of the poor and sick was a testament to her own needs, while she lived in very comfortable housing. She saw doctors for her own medical needs but denied them to “her children.” “She was investigated for accepting donations from Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, the former dictator of Haiti, and from fraudsters such as Robert Maxwell and Charles Keating, the California banker jailed in the Savings and Loan scandal.” Christopher Hitchens

It remains unclear where that money went. And yet, even though her ‘miracles’ were scientifically proven false, her canonization was fast tracked by the catholic bishop.

Do you see the similarities to this and what is happening in the US right now under your dictator?

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CRuTav's avatar

https://go.ted.com/eoeWr This is a TED Talk titled, “How to Topple a Dictator.”

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Katie Leona Rose's avatar

I think the U.S. of America is the only first World Country where the citizens would sit back and watch an almost 80 year old pedophile with dementia change it to a authoritarian country without any substantial sustained reaction, except criticize politicians on social media. Even the militaries in third world countries would have gotten Trump, Vance, Hegseth and Miller out of there by now. Even the military in Germany under Hitler almost got him out. Our military is the most pathetic military presently. If the military, law enforcement, CIA, the courts, can't do it, Hakeem Jefferson and Chuck Schumer can't do it. It's " we the people" or no one at all.

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Teach84's avatar

It’s not that the military can’t do it; it’s that they are choosing NOT to do it! In my opinion, that makes them complicit in the takeover of my country.

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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

What makes you think the only resistance going on is making comments on social media?

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Doc Blase''s avatar

...or making appearances on MSLSD.

Just because the French resistance did not take out ad space in Le Matin does not mean the resistance did not exist.

Sharon makes an important point here. And it's Jeffries, not Jefferson.

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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

I'm not keen on breaking our military tradition of being apolitical and giving them the idea being involved in a coup is any sort of possibility. So far they have not been given illegal orders. And everyone losing their shit over the Guard being in DC, seriously try to find out what the protocol is for handling arms in the military. It's not done the way it was during Kent State, and the Gaurd in DC is walking around without ammo. Be nice to them - they don't want to be there. ICE is the real problem.

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Brianna Amore's avatar

The way he's looking these days he may not last much longer. The Grim Reaper might take care of the problem for us. One can only hope.

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Sandra Wallace's avatar

The problem lies buried deeper than Trump will ever be.

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Bonny Becker's avatar

It's the entire Republican party and their voters. They could stop this at any time.

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Rayna's avatar

DT is only the puppet. The puppet-masters are Miller & Thiel who will then direct the puppet in line, JDV. Although DT is a problem, he's not the ROOT of the problem.

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Brianna Amore's avatar

Yup. I often liken Trump to a mushroom in a forest. All we're seeing is the fruiting body but an entire mycelium network exists out of sight.

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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

DJT is the cult leader, and when the cult dies it doesn't translate to a new leader. Ever. JD Vance is hated by all factions to some extent, and most Americans haven't a clue who Peter Thiel is. But once they hear him talk, they will figure out he's a creep and a hated billionaire. Things haven't reached a turning point yet, but they will, and Project 2025 and tech bros will be put in their place just the same as happened during Gilded Age 1.0. We are waking up, but it takes a while to show real fruits.

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Doc Blase''s avatar

One thing missing here is the POV that MAGAe hold, which is burning in a volcano is worse than the "communist Democrats." Nevermind the irony or facts.

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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

That's not missing. It's part and parcel of cultish behavior. It's seen in extremist forms of Christianity as well. But there are Trump voters and MAGA, and they are not the same. My Latino son-in-law couldn't make headway with his siblings as they voted for Trump, but my oh my that worm turned quickly.

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Aug 25
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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

JD has a brown wife, zero charisma, and his sexuality is questionable, none of which will play well with MAGA. There's so much material that can be used in messaging to oppose him. And Peter Thiel is just another foreign born billionaire creep who thinks he knows best how the we peons need to live. He's not hard to oppose either. The real problem is the Dem Party seems to be mostly clueless about how to effectively message against narcissist weirdos, so I guess it's gonna fall to us. Get your dank memes ready, folks.

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CRuTav's avatar

He just wants his family to hold power forever. There are many Trumps who would be happy to be king or queen.

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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

Well his family members have a Chrisma of 3 on a good day. They are not DJT. They don't have the skills to be a cult leader. They've never been allowed to operate independently from Daddy long enough to develop anything.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

I see less than zero charisma in this clown, but apparently he appeals to 70+ million people. I will never understand that.

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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

I don't think he appeals to 70+ million people as much as the GOP and religious loons have partnered for decades now to create fear and loathing of Democrats. Some of the voting is just reflexive. It's been from the 80s on. And their efforts have gotten us to where we are. But the deprogramming is beginning, not just politically, but religiously. Organizations like the SBC are now losing members. People across the political spectrum see billionaires as a problem not a solution. A funny thing will happen as people lose the ability to eat and have a roof over their head and healthcare - they will figure out they've been conned and there will be an opportunity for real change. Plant the seeds of ideas wherever you can. Those things do grow over time. There will always be 30% of Trump voters who won't quit him. But with him off the stage they lack anything to rally around. And some will return to being politically inactive as they were before. The more widely one reads history the more the current situation is made clearer. Oh, it's dangerous and we can't ignore the problems, but we will win if we keep focus.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

You had me until the last line. 😬 I have serious ADHD and my meds haven't been working, so focus is one thing I don't have. 😖 I do what I can without it, some days being more productive than others.

I'm hoping the whole grocery store sticker shock thing will be a big help in the days to come, especially with no one around to pick produce, not because they've been deported but because they've gone into hiding. Where are all those white boys in their mamas' basements complaining that immigrants are taking their jobs? Are they lining up asking to pick fruit in the hot sun for not much money?

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Doc Blase''s avatar

Gee, that would be a real shame to wake up to that fucker's obituary.

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Sylvia Sewell's avatar

I agree, but maybe not soon enough.

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Martha Kenne's avatar

Big time!

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Xplisset's avatar

Every accusation is tomorrow’s plan.

Jade Helm panic then; real deployments now…..receipts at www.xplisset.com.

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TonyCastaneda's avatar

SO WE ALREADY KNOW D.T.PLAN IS FROM THE RUSSIAN PLAYBOOK,TO DICTATORSHIP.SO WHAT IS THE PLAYBOOK FOR AMERICANS ,WHO ENJOY THE DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE.SO WHAT HAVE OTHER COUNTRIES DONE TO ESCAPE DICTATORSHIP, FOR PEOPLE THAT DONT KNOW.

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CRuTav's avatar

The fastest way to get our democracy back is for more than just us aging hippies along with more of his base to say, “Stop Project 2025.” “Release ALL the Epstein files NOW.” “Close the detention camps Stop activating guards and troops.” “Stop knocking the press and stop filling your press conferences with only people who agree with you.” “Tell Netanyahu and Putin to ceasefire and put sanctions on til they do.” “Fund education and healthcare.” “Stop your definition of election reform.” “Stop the war against educational and cultural institutions.” “Stop dividing us and unite us.” “We want democracy, not authoritarianism.” “We know what the president is trying to make himself king and we don’t want that.” We need more people and a coordinated effort. My next set of phone calls to my list of politicians will say all the things in quotes above. Start with making a list of politicians to call, email and/or fax. After you make a few phone calls, it will get easier.

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cindee68's avatar

"Stop dividing and unite us." That is the real problem they are perpetrating. WE are better as one voice. Perhaps if we choose (simply) the Constitution and shout the misconduct with respect to that sacred document into the void, we can agree on one thing. It would be a start, anyway.

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CRuTav's avatar

We need to get politicians to read/watch Substack (Lev Parnas, Zev Shalev, Olga Lautman, etc.) Also https://www.muellershewrote.com/p/women-in-independent-media?r=4twbak&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=audio-player

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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

Americans are not Russians. We haven't been taught to shut up for centuries. To find out what other countries have done to that succeeded, I suggest looking at the Wiki for Orange Revolution, Velvet Revolution and Singing Revolution for a start on what has succeeded. Then go looking for what is underway in Slavic countries right now - Hungary and Serbia for a start. And S Korea successfully ran a dictator out of office this year. Oh and we have the advantage of more mobility and an armed populace, which is more than those other countries had to work with. We are sitting here with friends in Detroit, unsurprised that this city has not been one named for occupation. IYKYK

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Brianna Amore's avatar

Precisely. Russians have never known freedom for the entire history of that nation. From the Czars to the Bolshevik Revolution to the fall of Communism and a brief flirtation with capitalism that led to Putin's rise and establishment of dictatorial control. Whereas the USA was founded after a revolution throwing off the yoke of Mad King George. If Trump thinks Americans are going to willingly accept a dictatorship he's got another thing coming.

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Teach84's avatar

Most of them already have willingly accepted it, and it makes me both angry and sad.

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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

If you're interested in hearing from Russian on the subject, I can recommend Konstantin of INSIDE RUSSIA on YouTube. He's lived both in Russia and the US, and it's quite interesting when he chooses to talk about that.

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Sandra Wallace's avatar

Google the question, for an answer.

WHAT HAVE OTHER COUNTRIES DONE TO ESCAPE DICTATORSHIP, FOR PEOPLE THAT DONT KNOW.

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Dr. Patricia Morton's avatar

Sandra, here in Canada 🇨🇦 our Charter of Rights and Freedoms renders dictatorship illegal because unconstitutional, and if any political leader tried to ignore our constitutional Charter Rights and Freedoms, that leader’s decision can be challenged and overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Sadly however, America’s Supreme Court is dominated by Trump appointees and seems likely to let your disgusting and dangerous POTUS do whatever he wants to do.

I think it really is up to the American People to take action ASAP and to peacefully but massively protest in the streets of their cities and states.

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Sandra Wallace's avatar

I guess we have a lot of catching up to do.

My husband's father was born in Canada, from parents who immigrated from Scotland....then, they all eventually immigrated to the U.S.

It was a lot easier to arrive and finally gain citizenship back in the early 1900's.

I'm impressed that Canadians had the foresight to protect your Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Silly us. We didn't see this coming.

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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

Huge protests are planned for Labor Day. And there is ongoing resistance going on daily. You wouldn't know it from listening to legacy media though. But you can find out here depending on which sources you follow, or sometimes just Bluesky for what's trending.

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Doc Blase''s avatar

Turning off the Caps Lock is a good start, stop yelling at us and hit that key to the left of the letter "A". It's about 3/32'nd of an inch away from looking like a fool.

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WJB Motown's avatar

TacoTits...the narcissist lives and breaths for attention......Diaper Don relishes the pain and suffering he inflicts on the American people and the entire planet........Serial rapist/child rapist and molester uses and abuses all ages women for momentary sexual gratification, tossing them aside just like his used diapers.

Donable Lector is a pile of dog shit and is on a one way trip to hell.

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Carie's avatar

I don't know how to act other than the protesting, not buying things, writing congress people who could care less. I've been an American for 66 years. There have been national ups and downs --- absolutely nothing like this. I'm covered by Medicare. I paid into Social Security and get a small check. Without those, I have to get a job. It's going to get worse for us.

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Sharon Bouchard's avatar

I'm about your age. I have some physical limitations, but what I an do is try to give younger Americans some perspective they might find useful. This country has managed to get through three previous crisis periods successfully. It's critical we not give in to doom and gloom. Just be in conversation with others - it matters. In person or online - help frame the issues as best you can. I don't know how mucb you remember about years like 1968,but we aren't even as bad off as people our age have already lived through. If we pull together we will come out the other side with some real positive change to show for it.

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Shel's avatar

Everyone needs to pay attention!!!!!!!!!!

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Laurie Blair's avatar

Mike Hammer ; Well said!

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LHS's avatar

Then there are depressing stories like this, and I wonder where, or if, it will all end: https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2025/08/24/front-line-black-women-trump-crime-chicago-national-guard

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Margaret's avatar

I wonder what Danielle Carter-Walters thinks about the Haitians who had temporary protected status until Trump suddenly revoked it. My guess is that she'll say it's not about blacks, it's about immigrants. What she doesn't get is that she or someone she loves might get snatched by ICE and sent "back" to Haiti without a hearing to give them a chance to prove they're not Haitian. Hopefully they speak French or Kreyòl.

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Sylvia Sewell's avatar

Creole

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Sandra Wallace's avatar

In response to the hair extension-ed, red lipped, MAGA hat lady, who's begun a reported 7 person group to support Trump in Chicago...

Satan is Evil. Evil is Satan. Put two and two together.

"Danielle Carter-Walters, co-founder of Chicago Flips Red, a group of Trump supporters, said she has been imploring the president to send the National Guard to Chicago. In April, she testified before Congress about the peril she sees coming from undocumented immigrants, who she blames for crime and a deterioration of life in the city."

Historically, all immigrants to the U.S. were "undocumented". Check your own immigrant lineage to verify that truth!

Who are the real crime and life deteriorators in this country, especially since the last election???? Dare I ask?

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Leslie Goodman-Malamuth's avatar

MAGA on Instagram scoffed and called me “Chicken Little” when I said that their decaying daddy wouldn’t stop at militarizing blue cities with black mayors.

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Heather.B's avatar

Do you remember when Trump on the campaign trail said: “Vote for me this one time and you'll never have to vote again” and MAGAs CHEERED? 🤦‍♀️

Trump's goal is a military dictator coup. He doesn’t care at all about “Crime“. He cares about deploying military control as practice for what is coming. He wants blue cities to explode and then he can declare martial law. Trump is moving towards dictatorship for America using the military this way. In a fascist dictatorship, that's the way it works.

Where is the Congress? Where is the Supreme Court? Our separation of powers created to DEFEND the Constitution and our democracy is failing us.

Not sure why the US population is just letting the fascist MAGA dictatorship do whatever it wants. 🤦‍♀️

The fact that anyone could support such a move, tells me that much of MAGA supports fascism... MAGAs just don't understand or lack the education to know better. The hypocrisy is insane, that's why I like wearing these kinds of shirts in front of them 👇

https://libtees.dashery.com/t-shirts

Also, I read that 48% of Republicans would still vote for Trump if he was implicated in the Epstein files... Imagine that! 🤦‍♀️

You can't fix stupid!

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Brianna Amore's avatar

MAGAs obviously support tyranny as long as it's THEIR people in charge. Remember how they freaked out when the Jade Helm exercise happened during Obama's term? They literally accused HIM of wanting to put soldiers in the streets.

Every accusation something something.

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Xplisset's avatar

Projection today, occupation tomorrow. www.xplisset.com

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Kyle Brock's avatar

Christmas conservatives enabling and protecting lifelong pedophiles from mega churches to maga politics is how Republicans turned into fascists. Why would they stop now?

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WJB Motown's avatar

Trumps fake Orange cult of Foxwashed morons........has ZEEO claim to the word Christmas. Lowiering the age of marrage to 10 yeas old is the normal for inbred Maggots thar really need to get laid outside the family trailer.

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Connie Larsen's avatar

Didn’t I just hear about a 10 yo pregnant girl giving birth in Oklahoma? WTF!

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WJB Motown's avatar

James Dobson......R est I n P iss. "Focus on the Family" ministry.....originator of maggot "family values' BS!!...huge Trump supporter and leader in cancelling Roe/Wade........child marrage at 10 and not allowed to divorce....spanking to start at 6 months of age........brainshing through "homeschooling'.........women to smile and pray to God everytime husband beats her........weapons used by 'Christian Nationalists" to beat children include elecrtric cords, belts, yardsticks, willow swicks, fishing rods, Ping Pong paddles,wooden spoons...

Survivor websites include Patheos and Recovering Grace

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Connie Larsen's avatar

Anyone know? Aren’t the big ass religious, evangelical or faith guys pedophiles? Like 🍊💩🫏

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Black Raven's avatar

Chicken Little? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 they are so stupid. Lmao... I can't with those idiots.

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Xplisset's avatar

Laugh now; soldiers patrol tomorrow. www.xplisset.com

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Leslie Goodman-Malamuth's avatar

Vividly! “What have you got to lose?” Trump coaxed black voters. At the prospect of one-party—theirs—white nationalism, MAGA and other overwhelmed, low-info folk say, How bad could a dictator be, what with uppity Barack Hussein, Sleepy Joe and Hunter and Hillary taking bags of money from Russia and Ukraine.“Didn’t have a care in the world, with Mommy and Daddy standing by,” sang Don Henley in “The End of the Innocence.”

We’ll just let Daddy Jesus Donald do it.

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Karen's avatar

Now Orangeshitshispants says he’s sending them to Chicago. Well, stay the “F” out of our city! 🤬

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Tami2cents's avatar

“Chicken Little” seems to be an automated, typical & lazy retort by diehard MAGA folk. Sighing for this tiresome faction of idiocracy.

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opsan's avatar

AMERICA 1ST - NATIONAL (GUARD) TOUR. Coming to a city near you! https://bsky.app/profile/opsan.bsky.social/post/3lx5yrya24k2n

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Ross Bryant's avatar

Call Trump.a modsad agent ! They go crazy!!

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Michael Cohen's avatar

Thank you. As tomorrow is my birthday, the 25th, please help me to grow the community as big as possible by bringing friends and family to my platform.

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LouAnn's avatar

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL! See you tomorrow! 🎉🎂🍦🥮🧁🥂

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Connie Larsen's avatar

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I’m Thursday!

We have to fight!

Try to enjoy your day!

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opsan's avatar

AMERICA 1ST - NATIONAL (GUARD) TOUR. Coming to a city near you! https://bsky.app/profile/opsan.bsky.social/post/3lx5yrya24k2n

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Monica Garrison's avatar

STAND UP AND FIGHT AMERICA

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Stacey S.'s avatar

But do it peacefully! Dump daddy wants escalation so he can shoot. Resist but with common sense & no throwing sandwiches at the pseudo law enforcement.

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Bob Henry Baber's avatar

Beware: agent provocateurs are lurking!

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Connie Larsen's avatar

202 225 3121 or 202 224 3121

White House switchboard

ANY member of Congress! Call trump ass kissers. WTF!! I can’t believe representatives or senators with children would want them to grow up in a trump world.

Don’t miss this!

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5447819-thomas-massie-ro-khanna-jeffrey-epstein-victims-capitol/

Just HELL NO!!

https://www.nobelprize.org/contact?gf_protect_submission=1

Phone calling is easy to do from your home!!

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Hope E.'s avatar

Truth. We must not wait till it's too late. Resist. It'll hurt. Resist anyway. Our freedoms depend on us all.

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TonyCastaneda's avatar

it better be sooner than later because once its in place,its going to harder to dismantle,so why is this country number one because of the people wjo work it and not still from it,like the republicans just did it to we the people.

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Julie Marshall's avatar

He’s not he singular force capable of restoring order. He’s the singular force bringing disorder and chaos.

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Black Raven's avatar

Classic malignant narcissistic psychopath.

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Richard Waddell's avatar

He's descended from Jim Jones, Kool-Aid or Maga-Milkshake, they're both finis!

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Xplisset's avatar

Not law and order ya’ll. This sh** is dress rehearsal.

Michael, you nailed the pattern. Crime sits near a 30-year low in D.C., yet ~2,000 Guard went from unarmed to issued weapons and the White House is floating an emergency to stretch past the 30-day cap. That isn’t safety. That’s staging. Call it what it is: federal force as optics to bless map-rigging and retribution.

This is how you teach a country to accept soldiers on corners: start “temporary,” let cameras normalize it, then make it routine. Once rifles are normal in subway stations, local democracy is a prop.

• If you need uniforms to prove control, you don’t have control.

• Law without law is just order.

• You don’t “secure” cities by occupying them; you practice for election season.

How to back Meidas right now: add this piece to your feeds, restack it, and drop one timestamp that hit so new readers land on the proof fast. If you can, become a paid subscriber so this reporting stays loud. Send verified tips, videos, and documents from your city to the newsroom, and leave a 5-star on the Meidas podcast so the signal climbs. www.xplisset.com

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Brianna Amore's avatar

I remember armed soldiers in Times Square and Union Station after 9/11. Only then it was clear they were there to PROTECT the citizenry, not OPPRESS them.

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Hope E.'s avatar

Right on.

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Bob Seemueller's avatar

Forget who the political scientist was but he stated societies either have the "Rule of Law" that applies to everyone equally or you have Right Wing "Law and (social) Order where leaders are above the law and everyone else knows their place.

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Lisa's avatar

Thank you Mr. Cohen. Your work is greatly appreciated. Never in my 67 years of life would I ever have thought this could happen. He and his maggots need to be stopped. He is a piece of shit, and that’s an insult to shit everywhere. (Sorry to curse, but he brings my blood to a boiling point)

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Connie Larsen's avatar

Totally understand! I wish trump would drop ….!

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Bob Seemueller's avatar

Trump drops we get JD "couch f..ker", JD drops we get Moscow Mike Johnson.

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Donna Hill's avatar

We have already experienced the pleasure of ICE in Somerville MA. My friends in New Jersey don’t believe me. I asked them to watch something other than Fox News. It wasn’t well received.

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ramona j's avatar

That happens all the time . I remeber a7xh an encounter with a no longer friend, when they were burying bodies from Covid in NY. I SAW IT. they said it was fake. Stupid never learns.

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opsan's avatar

It will get worse with ICE expansion as the standards are 'relaxed'. https://bsky.app/profile/opsan.bsky.social/post/3lv7xbkygyk2z It's not real, but it is plausible. But now, the FBI?

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Tamalamb R's avatar

No Doubt about it!!! I’m in Portland Oregon ICE is already treating human beings as less than.

They have an ice office across the river from myself on Macadam Avenue in Portland. I don’t know how these people can live with themselves.

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Bob Seemueller's avatar

ICE are all morally damaged broken people.

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David Clark's avatar

Consider how much this deployment is going to cost. In a country that can barely pay the interest on what it owes, Trump and Republicans are spending money they don't have. This is not paid out of the Bill Ugly P0S Bill, this is extra. And now that Republicans have given Trump complete control, we will not know the crash is coming till it hits. This is what happens when you elect a convicted felon that has never payed his bills.

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Bob Seemueller's avatar

Every GOP has spent money like water from Nixon, Reagan was worst, until DJT spent $7T in his first term and $3T more in just 8 months of his 2nd. Carters deficits were like $30B a year and Clinton ran $1T surpluses! Dem's must defund ICE in the 2025 budget.

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David Clark's avatar

Bob, check your number, I found that Trump spent $8.4 trillion in his 1st term. It should also be noted that under Carter the National Debt was less than $1 trillion. Reaga tripled the National Debt. GW Bush took a $500 billion a year National Credit to a $1.4 trillion debt for a $1.9 trillion dollar swing. Tax and Spend Democrats has always been a lie and when I get answers from my House Rep Robert Anderholt I'm beginning to wonder if there is anyone in the GOP that can actually count.

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J Frost's avatar

That they’re even marching to follow these orders is a violation of their oath!

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Kelvin Hobbs's avatar

Donald Trump has “manufactured a crisis” to justify the notion of sending federalized national guard troops into Chicago next, over the heads of local leaders, a leading Democrat said on Sunday, as the White House advanced plans to militarize more US cities. Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader and a New York Democratic congressman, accused the US president of “playing games with the lives of Americans” with his unprecedented domestic deployment of the military, which has escalated to include the arming of troops currently patrolling Washington, DC – after sending troops into Los Angeles in June. The Guardian, 24 Aug 2025 https://tinyurl.com/yk8m5y2d

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During remarks in the Oval Office, President Trump told reporters he may declare a national emergency in order to keep the National Guard in Washington, D.C. He added that he does not believe believe he will have to take that step after the 30-day deadline. Yahoo! News August 22, 2025 https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/trump-says-may-declare-national-175838315.html

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6. Be wary of paramilitaries. When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching with torches and pictures of a leader, the end is nigh. When the pro-leader paramilitary and the official police and military intermingle, the end has come.

17. Listen for dangerous words. Be alert to use of the words "extremism" and "terrorism." Be alive to the fatal notions of "emergency" and "exception." Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.

18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. The sudden disaster that requires the end of checks and balances, the dissolution of opposition parties, the suspension of freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Do not fall for it.

On Tyranny, Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, Timothy Snyder https://snyder.substack.com/p/on-tyranny

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Brianna Amore's avatar

It could be argued that you can draw a straight line from today back to 9/11, after which the DHS was formed and immigration enforcement was put under their control. Many of us were horrified that something as blatantly fascist as the Department of HOMELAND Security (shades of Der Vaterland) was formed ostensibly to "protect" the nation, yet it was obvious that one day they could be turned against the rest of us.

Well that day has arrived.

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ramona j's avatar

Well said and true Brianna.

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Richard Waddell's avatar

The president himself is the BIGGEST national emergency,

as are all the actions that extrude from his cranium.

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opsan's avatar

It will get worse with ICE expansion as the standards are 'relaxed'. https://bsky.app/profile/opsan.bsky.social/post/3lv7xbkygyk2z It's not real, but it is plausible. But now, the FBI?

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Kelvin Hobbs's avatar

[Building on the excellent (IMO) post of Brianna Amore in this thread. Sec. 886(a)(4) inserted below well may underlie some of what we have seen and now are witnessing.]

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PUBLIC LAW 107–296—NOV. 25, 2002 116 STAT. 2137 https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/hr_5005_enr.pdf

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Homeland Security Act of 2002’’.

...

SEC. 886. SENSE OF CONGRESS REAFFIRMING THE CONTINUED IMPORTANCE AND APPLICABILITY OF THE POSSE COMITATUS ACT.

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:

(1) Section 1385 of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Posse Comitatus Act’’), prohibits the use of the Armed Forces as a posse comitatus to execute the laws except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress.

...

(4) Nevertheless, by its express terms, the Posse Comitatus Act is not a complete barrier to the use of the Armed Forces for a range of domestic purposes, including law enforcement functions, when the use of the Armed Forces is authorized by Act of Congress or the President determines that the use of the Armed Forces is required to fulfill the President’s obligations under the Constitution to respond promptly in time of war, insurrection, or other serious emergency.

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Dr. Patricia Morton's avatar

Kevin, thank you for this information. My question is can America’s Supreme Court challenge and overturn such presidential misuse of this legislation on the grounds that there is NO war, NO insurrection or other serious emergency? (Clearly crime rates are way down in the cities Trump plans to occupy, so there is NO serious emergency)

This of course assumes that the American Supreme Court has not been Magafied by Trump, and is actually nonpartisan and independent.

But what has happened to America’s once acclaimed system of Checks and Balances?

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Brianna Amore's avatar

Checks and balances are only work if people are willing to enforce them.

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Kelvin Hobbs's avatar

The Federalist Papers: No. 51 (Hamilton or Madison) "Checks and Balances" February 8, 1788 https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed51.asp

"Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit. In a society under the forms of which the stronger faction can readily unite and oppress the weaker, anarchy may as truly be said to reign as in a state of nature, where the weaker individual is not secured against the violence of the stronger ..."

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Kelvin Hobbs's avatar

Patricia (or Dr. Morton, if you prefer),

Can the SCOTUS? Sure. Will they? I'll give 6:3 odds (with a hedge at 5:4) they will not. But, that begs this question: Suppose they did as you suggested in your queries, what would happen if their directives simply were ignored as already has become the norm?

Checks and balances, SCOTUS Justices (with 3 esteemed exceptions) have made their own Faustian bargains, I offer two suggested responses (not necessarily all possible):

1. Thomas Jefferson to William Jarvis, September 28, 1820 Correspondence https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-16-02-0234

"I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society, but the people themselves: and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is, not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."

2. Maybe when all who take oaths of office - many elected officials, military officers, attorneys and others, remember that the oaths they took were to the US (and in some cases, also their State) Constitution, not to any human, real or a cosplay pretender.

Example: Oath of Commissioned Officers ("... I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same...") https://www.army.mil/values/officers.html

Example: Senate & the U.S. Constitution | Oath of Office ("I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same ...") https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/oath-of-office.htm

Example: State of California Attorney's Oath ("... I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California ... ") https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/California-Bar-Examination/Attorneys-Oath

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brad ziegel's avatar

This is how the first shots of our civil war will begin,in an effort to repel Trump's militarization of our cities or to repel ICE from stealing you're family....we are there now.

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Julyluv31's avatar

Hello Bennn, Happy Sunday to your family and you and hoping y’all are having a nice day!! Everyone by now knows what this agenda is!! Can’t afford to eat, No Health Care, No Jobs, No Protective Vaccines against anything that may harm the body! Just Absolutely Nothing, folk are being set up to die and there is no other way to say it but to say it, so much has happened and will Always happen!! It’s because of the Freak and His Freakettes!! FDT!! That’s All!!

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BLUE PATRIOT's avatar

TRUMP!- GET OFF MY PORCH!

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